Biographical Sketch of James L. FUTHEY (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila- delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 456-7. "JAMES L. FUTHEY, for many years a prominent and prosperous farmer of Highland township, but now living in retirement at Atglen, is a son of Robert and Margaret (Parkinson) Futhey, and was born in West Fallowfield township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, October 29, 1822. He was reared on the farm on which he was born; attended the common schools of his neighborhood, and completed his education at the Unionville and New London academies. On leaving school he returned to his father's place in High- land township and engaged in farming, to which occupation he devoted nearly all the active years of his life. The property passed into his possession in 1872, and he successfully continued his connection with agricultural pursuits until 1884, at which time he sold the farm and removed to Atglen, where he has led a retired life ever since, in a place where every reasonable want can be gratified, and among a people with whom he finds it pleasant to dwell. "In April, 1878, Mr. Futhey was united in marriage to Lavinia Sutton, a daughter of Joel Sutton, of Coleraine township, Lancaster county, this State. Mr. Futhey is of Presbyterian ancestry, and is an attendant and supporter of that church, and in politics has always been a republican. In his earlier years he was an occasional contributor to various journals, both in poetry and prose, and always acceptably. While living in Highland township he was frequently called to serve his fellow-citizens in official positions, and at one time or another has held nearly all the local offices of the township. He is widely known and highly esteemed for the integrity and steadfastness of his character, having been a good, honest, substantial farmer all his life, and an intelligent, successful and useful citizen. "The family to which Mr. Futhey belongs is of Scotch-Irish origin, and among its members have been some of the most distinguished citizens of this part of the Keystone State. Not least among these was Mr. Futhey's grandfather, Major Samuel Futhey, and his brother, Judge J. Smith Futhey, author and jurist, and his cousin, Robert Agnew Futhey, a sketch of whom appears on page 313 of this work, to which reference is made for the ancestral history of this old and prominent family."